i also encourage experienced dancers to help (and we do get a fair number of regulars at the classes most of the dances here in CO). and i demo with an experienced dancer and have them buzz step WHILE i walk," demonstrating that you don't have to buzz, but can start whenever you feel like you're ready. in a "regular" class, my next figure would be promenade/right and left/ladies chain, noting that they are all basically the same figure (ladies always walk the same direction, end up in the same place), with a few fun little variations. and good points for how to decline "extreme dancing" :-) and i disagree (not with you, with something in another post) that the pointy hands are not part of "giving weight" or whatever you want to call it. a gentle push on the pointy hands provides instant frame. get somebody who doesn't know how to dance and try it - it gives them enough connection to "follow" your lead. cheers, barb
> Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2011 13:22:07 -0700 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Callers] Implied Messages in First-Timer's Orientation > > When I teach a newcomers' session, I focus on feeling that connection > with the other dancers through shared weight. Generally we have 30 > minutes scheduled but it takes enough time to get a quorum that I have > only 15-20 minutes to teach the basics. > > 1. stand in circle, hold hands, raise toes to feel that the other > dancers are helping support your weight > 2. walk around the circle with slightly tensed arms, then noodle arms, > to convey the difference > 3. face partner around the circle and practice feeling the same kind > of "positive tension" via allemandes (progress to new partner several > times) > 4. swing demo with experienced dancer in the middle so all can see > that hands are on shoulder blades and right feet are lined up > 5. if available, have trusted, experienced dancers go around to > correct what people are doing in their swings (I do the same); > progress several times; emphasize how to decline a fast swing by > dragging feet slightly or using a walking step, or saying "I'm getting > dizzy"; also emphasize hydrating and looking at a fixed point on the > partner's face > 6. if time permits, line up for a contra dance and go over progression > with small circles rotating, then balancing, then passing through > 7. if time permits, face across the set for ladies chain and R/L > through (explained as "only the ladies change places" or "both couples > change places"); this allows me to show the corkscrew twirl (with a > trusted, experienced dancer I know won't hurt me) and how either party > can decline a twirl > > At the end of the teaching session I tell them they've passed Contra > Dancing 101 and it's time for a real dance. > > I like to call a dance with a hey for #3 on the program so I can give > my famed hey tutorial. > 1. take the place of someone in a set with otherwise experienced dancers > 2. demo the hey with all weaving/looping > 3. feign look of terrified new dancer, walk across in a straight line, > turn and come back while the others weave around me, emphasizing that > if you come back to where you started then you've done a hey > 4. have the sets practice the hey once, then finish the walk-through > and progress so they can practice with a new group; I almost always do > two quick walk-throughs and then start the dance w/o rolling back. > > Cheers! > -Marianne (Seattle) > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
